British Prime Minister Theresa May’s early election call backfires

Theresa May addresses the press

British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks watched by her husband Philip in 10 Downing street, London, as she addresses the press Friday, June 9, 2017 following an audience with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace where she asked to form a government. (Photo: Tim Ireland/AP)

Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered one of the most dramatic reversals in recent British political history, losing an overall majority in parliament in a snap election she had been predicted to win easily.

May had called the election on April 18, urging voters to boost her 17-seat working majority in order to strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations.

Opinion polls at that time gave her Conservatives a 20-point lead over Labour, enough for a potentially triple-figure majority. (AFP)